Mark Francois, the Tory MP, has offered to ring the bell himself at 11pm on January 31 to mark the occasion AFP/GETTY IMAGESBoris Johnson has revived the hopes of campaigners who want to hear Big Ben chime to mark Britain’s departure from the EU at the end of the month after they were warned that it would be too expensive. Conservative MPs have been lobbying for the clock to be reactivated to coincide with the moment at which Brexit officially occurs at 11pm on January 31. The House of Commons’ managing body reportedly decided against the proposal yesterday after being told that the original estimated cost of £120,000 had risen to £500,000. However, the prime minister today said that a crowdfunding effort was under way. “We are working up a plan so people can bung a bob for a Big Ben bong,” he told BBC Breakfast.

Source: The Times January 14, 2020 09:00 UTC